Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-10-08

$500 - 80 AAAS idthCt diOlIS tHC Ilfci
path If he'd been stupid drunk, but he was
only drunk, and that means as clear-headed
as lawyer, so l thought there was no
danger-an' no more there wasn't for him.
Well, we got along about half way, wild
him cursin' mither for dyin' and me for
not dyin', whin he gave me fearful shove
in the back, an over | whit, an the
breath was knocked out av me body before
l had time to scream.
Well, whin at last Larry an the praste
an the women came over the fields an got
to our house, they found me poor mither
had got tired av waitin' for us, and had
died alone, wild no one to say prayer or
close her eyes. Thin they were scared an
whit back over the river path. There
they found me father snorin' like hog,
an carin' no more about mither an me
than nothin' at all-perfectly unconsarned.
1t was an hour before Larry got down to
the brink, wild his hands bleedin' an his
clothes in rags, an found me lynn across a
rock, drenched wild the rain, an me feet
haDgin' in the wather. 1t was part av me
bad luck that hadn't rolled off an been
drowned, for whin, after hours av hard
work, they got me up an put me on bed,
| was bruised from head to foot by the
stones and trees I'd lodged against, an wan
av me legs was that broken and twisted
an swollen that We cudn't tell shin from
calf Me mither was buried before I.came
to me senses, and me father was buried
along wild her-he'd caught cold an a
fever out in the rain, an SO he died, an a
good thing, too.
Well, / whit to the hospital, an the
dochtors said I'd niver stand nor walk
again. It's me belafe that thin docthors
mended NE leg dozen times an tin broke
it for the piisure av curin' it over again.
Anyhow, there stayed for two long years,
while Larry was mournin' me as good as
dead, an gittin' in terrible way av drink
in. When ! had bad spell he'd drink to
drown his grief; when was betther he'd
drink from JOY, an betwane the two he
kept at it pretty much all the time. But
at last was well, barrin' the hurt leg was
six inches shorter than the other; an thin
Larry said if I'd only have him niver an
other dhrop would he touch So wan day
near sunset, whin the clouds were as vel
low as butther an the river the color av
gold, We rode across to Queenstown an
were married. Larry looked as handsome
as picter.
"And you, too, I've no doubt" said l.
Maybe So" admitted Mrs Mulvady.
had white dress on, an it's lucky [
had, for comm home Larry was a bit
screwed an managed to upset the boat
We cud both swim, an we got out all
right, boat an all; but if I'd worn a stiff
dress it I'D been spoiled.
"Well, Larry an | lived together almost
a year in peace and quiet. He drank lit
tie all the while, but it niver made him
hateful, and nary cross word did git av
him as long as he lived. Thet was the
happy time av of my life. 1t was June
that Mickey, me baby, was born, an whin
he was three days old he was christened.
an We had grand party in the evenia'.
Larry was quite wild wild pride an whisky,
and whin the women had fixed me an the
baby up comfortable for the night an livery
body had gone home, nothin would do the
poor drunken loon but he must dance an
other Jig. An all / could say wouldn't
stop him, an wild little glass lamp in his
hand he began whoopin' an !jumpin' like
a crazy man. Whisht-goroo all av
sudden he stumbled an fell across the foot
av me bed, and the lamp exploded an the
burnin' oil flew all over me face. Ye can
see the mark av it to this day.
81 covered the baby with pillow, an
smothered the flames out av me hair an
nightdress wild blanket An thin l tried
to pull Larry out of the fire and smoke
but he was heavy an | was wake, an it
took me long time to git him on the fure
an put out the blaze. He cudn't open his
eyes nor his mouth, an livery hair was
singed off his head
THE neighbors heard me scream and
came in as quick as they could. Larry
fingered along five days; the docthors said
he had breathed the flames clean to the
bottom av his lungs. | meeself was at
deaths door for weeks, what wild the burn
an sorrow. Whin me poor husband was
gone cudn't stand Lewiston any longer
| thought Pd try Buffalo for change"
Lewiston's charming, but it lacks ex-
element" said |.
"Troth, that WASH. exactly the fault I
found wild the place." said Mrs. Mulvany,
grimly. "Well, some good people gave
me some money, an ! bought this little
house an piece of land. That was twinty
years ago, an it wasn't worth much, for
there was no house widin mile. | used
to go into the city washin, carryin' Mickey
on me back while he was little, though me
poor leg niver stopped achin' from mornin'
till night. | might have married again,
but wouldn't have amy man after Larry,
not if a nurracle brought him to me-not
if he came out av the taypot wild the tay.
Mickey was me JOY and trissure, wild his
blue eyes an tangle av yellow curls. But
whin he was about ten years ould he began
runnin' away from school, an fightin' an
smokin' an jeerin ut me scar and me limp;
an after year or two he knew the taste of
whisky betther than milk He's been get
tin worse liver since, an that's why | say
me patch av garden has been me only
pleasure these tin years. God knows where
it will end. His grandfather robbed me of
me stringth, his father av me beauty, an
now / suppose Mickey'h take me life"
Oh, don't speak so !" / cried, quite
shocked.
Its more than likely" said Mrs Null
vany, with resignation. ave had close
shave for my life twice, We know, and they
say three times an out. Mickeyll finish
me, L expect. Ye see me black eye? He
gave it to me the other night"
The wretch Why did he do such
thing?" | cried
On, we ndu u DIT OF dispute, SAID Mrs.
Mulyany calmly. "He wants me to sell
here, an l won't. I'd like to, for I'm
lonely; ye're the only lady round here
who's liver given me good word or look
I'd like to go down to Lewiston among me
ould friends and neighbors, though they're
mostly dead I'd like to sit by the river
at sunset, whin the clouds an wather are
both yellow together, an fancy meself
girl again, rowin' over to Queenstown with
Larry to be married. But Mickey I'D git
livery dollar away from me-"
No, no Pm sure it could be arranged"
l said eagerly. Ny husband is honest as
the day is long, and he's in bank and I'M
derstands all about money, and Pm certain
he could tell you how to sell your property
and buy house and lot in Lewiston with
out letting Mickey know word about it.
Please come up and see him about it to-
night"
will, / will, an thank We kindly for
yer interest in me-" said Mrs. Mulvany,
with something like hope in her eyes.
And then gathered up my flowers, and
once more thanked her for them and went
home.
OF course it would be easy to do, l
thought; she should be freed from the
haunting terror of Mickey, which l could
j I